We invested $456 million in new and existing stores, returned $95 million in quarterly dividends to our shareholders, and repurchased $29 million of common stock. Our total cash and investments nearly doubled over the prior year, increasing $745 million to $1.5 billion.
A bowl filled with okra in a market. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a digestive disorder that affects about 20 percent of adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.
The researchers noted that okra is a rich source of dietary fiber and has been traditionally used to manage diabetes. In a similar study published in the Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, researchers again tested okra in diabetic rats.